GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS AND SERVICES SS.7.C.3.14 Differentiate between local, state, and federal governments’ obligations and services.

Federal obligations to citizens Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution outlines the powers of Congress. These powers of Congress list the federal government’s obligations to the people.

Federal obligations to citizens The opening phrase of Article I, Section 8 demonstrates the obligations and services that the federal government is obligated to provide:  The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; . . . . The federal government is obligated to provide services to citizens equally regardless of the state in which they live.

enumerated Article I, Section 8 enumerates (lists) the powers of Congress. The final clause of this section extends to Congress whatever powers it needs to carry out the enumerated powers listed up to that point in the section.

Elastic clause The “elastic clause” is shown here: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. The final clause of Article I, Section 8 is called either the “elastic clause” or the “necessary and proper clause”, both of which indicate that the Congress may do whatever it needs to in order to fulfill its obligations and services to the people. Powers that are given to the federal government are also called “delegated” powers.

State government obligations The State of Florida is obligated to provide specific services to individuals living in Florida. These services include public safety, law enforcement, health services and education. Florida’s obligations and services are granted through the Tenth Amendment which reads as follows: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. As indicated by the Tenth Amendment, the states have “reserved” powers, which are powers that the state governments have to fulfill their obligations and services.

Read and hi-lite

Partner activity Excerpts from Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution Directions: For each excerpt of Article I, Section 8, summarize the text in your own words. What it says: What it means: SECTION. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; the power to set taxes, tariffs and other means of raising federal revenue, and to authorize the expenditure of all federal funds To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;   To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; To establish Post Offices and post Roads; To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Partner activity Excerpts from Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution Directions: For each excerpt of Article I, Section 8, summarize the text in your own words. What it says: What it means: SECTION. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; the power to set taxes, tariffs and other means of raising federal revenue, and to authorize the expenditure of all federal funds To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;   To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; To establish Post Offices and post Roads; To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Write in fcim journal SS.7.C.3.14 Differentiate between local, state, and federal governments’ obligations and services. The federal government and state and local governments in the U.S. are obligated by the U.S. Constitution, state constitutions and local charters to provide services to people living within their jurisdictions.

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